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Summary
The “double dividend” hypothesis suggests that cutting back on consumption and acting more in pro-environmental ways will in turn benefit the environment and enhance subjective well-being. Yet evidence is mixed, with some studies pointing to positive associations, while others highlight negligible benefits. Using United Kingdom panel data from Understanding Society for the period 2009-2019, we examine the links between income, pro-environmental behavior, and subjective well-being. Using two-way fixed effects models, our results suggest that income growth does not systematically foster pro-environmental behavior nor translate pro-environmental behavior into higher subjective well-being. The results point to the demise of the double dividend, at least in the context of the United Kingdom, challenging policy narratives that economic growth can jointly advance sustainability and well-being
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Open Access